Press



Marchi-22, v1938. A. ABYERLEIN `PRESS original Filed April le, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet l am W- el@ a Il .w

v 'March 2z, V192.8. AA, BYERLElN 2,112,011.v

PRESS y original Filed'Aprl i8, 19311 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 22,1938 PATENT OFFICE i s `Pmiss Arthur A.` Byerlein, Detroit, Mich.,assignor to General AMachinery Corporation, Hamilton,

Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application April 18, 1931, Serial No.531,087 Renewed August 25, 1937 y Y s n claims.

` This invention relates to metal forming presses. C )ne object of theinvention is theprovision of a. press for metal forming or the like,having a reciprocable slide adapted to be connected to and 5 ndisconnected from a constantly movable member such as a rotatable crankshaft, under the controlof the operator, the connection between thecrank shaft and the slide member beingV rendered eifective automaticallyby the press throughout a `very substantial .portionl of the cycle of.operations. The press is, therefore, adaptable for operations at veryhigh speeds. l l `Another object of the inventionis the provision of apress having a toggle connection between the crank shaft and areciprocable slide, provision being made for rendering the toggleconnection :ineffective or effective, during a cycle o'f operations.

Another object of the invention is `the provision of a high speed metalworking press particularly` adapted for metal forging, having meansoperable in timed relation to a crank shaft for gradually operablyconnecting the crankshaft -to a die carrying member so that power maythen 'be positively transmitted from the crank shaft to the diecarryingmember to move the latter to the work position. l f y Another object ofthe invention is the Vprovision of a press having aslide operated from acrank shaft or the likeithrough apluralityvof arms or links, mechanismbeing provided, operated by the movable parts of thepress underthecontrol of the operator, for holding the arms or links in powertransmitting relationship with re- 3 spect `to one another `during theeffective part of a stroke ofthe slide. i n

A further object is the provision of a press having mechanism of thecharacter mentioned for moving the slide downwardly, upward movement ofthe slide being caused by fluid pressure means. Other objects andadvantagesof the invention w111 be apparent from the fouowingdescription,

the appended lclaims and the accompanyingl` drawings, in Whichn p n .n

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a portion of a press embodying the presentl invention, some of the parts being shown in section;

vFig.` 2 is a side elevational view of portion of the press; x. Fig. 3is a verticall central section through the upper portion of the press;

y Fig,` 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4--4 o`f1ig.1;and` pFigs. 5, 6, and 'I are diagrammatic views showthe upper 50 ing theposition of the parts while engaging-and idling respectively.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals, likeVnumerals designating similar parts in the several views, III designates5 generally the frame of a press for forming metal or the'like.As-herein shown the `metal lforming press isparticularly adapted forstriking hammer 4 blows in the forging of metal, and is so designed as'to be capable of operating at high speed. In 10 the frame is supported arotatable crank shaft II adapted to be driven constantly lwhile thepress is in operation, by means of a suitable driving motor andconnectedgearing, not shown. Slidably mounted in guides I2 providedA in opposite15 sides of the press frame is a slide I3 to which may be afllxed `adieci suitable shape. The die supported by the slide I3 cooperates witha mating dlie carried bythe bed of the press below the s ide.

'Ihe slide I3 is urged upwardly atV all times in aylelding mannerbysuitable provision overcoming the weight of the slide, and a down strokeofthe slide is obtained by rendering a connection between the slide andthe crank shaft effective, the ycrank shaft then driving the slidedownwardly and overcoming theyielding upward force so as to bring theupper die into engagement with the metalsupported on the lower die. `Asherein shown the means for supporting the slide I3 and 30 holding itupwardly in a yielding manner is an air cushion `designated generallyI5. This air cushion comprises a piston I6 operating in cylinder I'Iin'which there is air or othersuitable fluid under some predeterminedpressure. This pressure is supplied to the interior ofthe cylinderthrough a pipe I8 in which is a pressure controlling valve that permitsthe supply of fluid tothe cylinder but prevents return into the line;'The air supply of the factory can thus be coupled to 40 the pipe I8 and`supply air under suitable pressure, `which holds the piston I6 up undera force that is greater than the weight of the slide` and itsvassociated parts. V

The pistonV I6 is connected by a piston rod I9 45 toa frame 2liconnected by bolts 2| or the like .to the upper end 22 of the slide I3.When thepiston I6 is pulled down by the slide I3, operated from thecrank shaft, the `air within the cylinder I'I is compressed, or thepressure originallyob- 50 taining within the cylinder is sufcient toovercome the weightlof the slide and its associated parts when thedriving connection to the crank shaft is rendered ineffective. When thepiston I 6 returns to its upper position, as shown im Fig. 3,

engaging, disit comes into engagement with a ring 24 which serves as astop limiting the upward movement of the piston and of the slide. Thisstop ring is connected by bolts 25 to spacing sleeves 26 which connectthrough springs 21 to the lower side of the iiange 28 on the upper endof the cylinder. The spacing sleeves 26 form a positive stop controllingupward movement of the stop ring 24. It will thus be apparent that thestop ring 24 can move a limited amount under the control of the springs21 when engagedgby the piston to provide a yielding stop at the upperend of movement of the slide I3.

As previously indicated the connection between the slide I3 and thecrank shaft is one that, at times, is inoperative, a driving connectionbeing made between the slide and the crank shaft automatically but underthe control of the operator. The connection between the slide and crankshaft is in the nature of a toggle embodying a link 30 pivotallyconnected by pin 3l to the slide and pivotally connected by pin 32 to acrank arm 33 operated by the crank 34 of crank shaft II. 'The connectingpin 32 which ties the crank arm 33 to link 30 is movable in a forwardand rearward direction by mechanism that will be presently described.When moved toward the front of the press a stop surface 36 on arm 30engages a stop 31 onthe rear side wall 38 of the slide. In this positionof the partsrthe connecting prin 32 is a little to the left of a lineconnecting the axis of pin 3| to the center of the crank shaft, so thatthe link 30 is held immovable with relation to the slide andis in powertransmitting relationship with respect to the arm 33, by reason of thevery slight misalignment of the axes of these parts and the upwardpressure created on the slide by the air cushion. kWhen the parts are inthis position it will be apparent that downward movement of the arm 33caused by rotation of the crank shaft transmits a downward force in aneffective and direct manner to the slide I3.

'I'he connecting pin 32 is connected to a rod 40 pivoted at 4I to thelower end of an arm 42 which is keyed to a shaft 43, rotatably supportedin suitable bearing brackets 44 and 45 apparent from Fig. 1. The shaft43 rotatably supports the hub 46 of a driving arm` 41, endwise movementof the hub along the shaft 43 being prevented in any suitable manner asby means of a suitable stop 48. 'Ihe driving arm 41 projects forwardly,carrying a cam roller 49 at its forward end. 'I'his roller operates in acam groove 50 of a driving cam 5I that is fixed to the end of the crankshaft II. The driving cam 5I` is of single lobe shape so that eachrevolution of the crank shaft causes a complete oscillation, that is anup and down movement, of the driving arm 41. The hub 46 of the drivingarm is adapted to operate the 'shaft 43 through clutch plates 53 and 54,both of which are keyed to the shaft 43, and both of which are movablein unison toward the right or left, see Fig. l. Clutch plate 53 isprovided with a stop surface 55 engageable with stop surface 56 on thedriving hub 46. Clutch plate 54 has a stop surface 51 engageable with astop surface 58 on the clutch hub. When the clutch plates 53 and 54 aresimultaneously moved to the right from the position shown 4in Fig. 1 itwill be apparent that thedriving hub 46 may operate the clutch plate 53in one direction, while in the position of the parts shown the drivinghub is operating the clutch plate 54 in the other direction.

'I'he clutch plates 53 and r54 are provided with grooves 59 cooperatingwith rollers 60 carried rigidly by a shift rod 6I. 'I'his rod is urgedtoward the left by a spring 62, whichtherefore tends to couple theclutch plate 54 to the driving hub 46. Rod 6I is moved toward the rightto couple the clutch plate 53 to the driving hub by means of a cam 63operating through 'roller 64, rod 65, arm 66, shaft 61 and 'arm 68. Theend of the arm 66 engages a groove 69 in the shift rod 6I, arms 68 and66 being rigidly connected to the shaft 61. In the position of the partscorresponding to Fig. 2 the roller 64 is in engagement with a circularportion of the cam, permitting the spring 62 to hold the shift rod overto the left, see Fig. 1, and thus hold clutch plate 54 in engagementwith the driving hub 46. This would be the position of the press partsjust after starting a cycle of operations. When the cam 63 moves theroller 64 downwardly, however, the shift rod is moved to the rightagainst the pressure of the spring 62, such position of the partscorresponding to the inoperative or ineiective position.

Slidably mounted in a suitable guide 16 is a foot operated member 1Ihaving connection through a suitable linkage 12 to afoot pedal or othersimilar controlling device adapted to be operated by the operator.Pivotally connected to the upper end of the member 1I is a notched latch13 engageable with a latch member 14 supported by rod 15. Rod 15 isslidably mountedin the bracket 16. and carries stop 11 at its upper end,the stop 11 and rod 15 being normally held up in a yielding manner byspring 18.' In its upper position, with the shift rod 6| in itsrighthand position, the stop 11 is infront of a stop plate 80 xed on therod 6I, holding the clutch plate 53.1n engagement with the driving hub.When the latch 13 is pulled downwardly by the operator so as to pullthe' latch member 14 down, the stop 11 is moved down out of the path ofthestop plate 80 so that the latter can be moved to the left by thespring 62. Fixed to the shaft 61 of the mechanism operated by cam 63 isan arm 8|, connected through rod 62 and spring 83 to the latch 13 sothat the latch will be pulled to the right to release the latch memberA14 when the spring 62 slides rod 6I to the left and causescounterelockwise rotation of parts 68, 66 and 8l. By reason of thisconstruction the operator is permitted to depress the foot pedal or likecontrolling device so that at the proper time in the cycle of operationsthe clutch plate 54 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 intoengagement with'the driving hub. When so moved it releases the latch 13,swinging it to the right, as shown, so that latch member 14 canautomatically move into the path of stop plate 86 after a sequence ofoperations has beencom pleted. When the stop plate 60 is held to theright the cam roll 64 is held away from the cam, and the spring 83 iscompressed, holding the latch 13 engaged with the latch member 14 if thefoot pedal is released, or engaging the latch and latch member when thefoot pedal is released.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and '1, several positions of the parts areindicated in full lines and in dotted lines, showing the movements ofthe crank' 34, the driving cam 5I arms 41 and 42, crank arm 33, link 30,rod 40, and the slide pin 3I. Fig. 7 showsv the parts while idling, thatis when the slide I3 is maintained stationary at the upper end of itsstroke while the crank shaft rotates. Under these conditions the slidepin 3l remains stationary while the link 30 and arm 33'move from lrisesto the top of its stroke.

the toggle linkage being always broken so that no 1 force is transmittedto the slide from the crank shaft. The arm 42 is swung outwardly by therod 'Illfsince the pin 32 is stationary, but this arm 42 `is soassociated with the shaft `43 (clutch plate 53 engaging driving hub 46)that arm 42 can move counterclockwise with relation to arm 41, the stopsurface 55 moving away from the stop surface56. f Therefore, the twoarms 42 and 41 are not connected together and up and 'down movements ofthe arm 41 as governed by the driving cam 5I are without effect on arm42.

When the foot pedal is 4depressed the latch 13 pulls down the latchmember 14 permitting the spring 62 to move the shift rod 6|`and` thusbring clutch `plate 54 into engagementl with the driving hub 46. The arm41 is then connected to arm 42 insofar as'a clockwise rotation isconcerned as viewed in Fig. 6, which is a view corresponding to Fig. 1.Starting with the full line position of the parts, a clockwise rotationof the crank shaft causes the pin 32 to move down some distance, duringwhich time the arm 41 is connected to the arm 42 as stop surfaces 58 and51 are in engagement. The armv 42v is therefore swung clockwise andthus` moves the pin 32` to the left at the same time it is being forceddownwardly by the crank arm 33. 'Ihis movement of the pin 32, to theleft, has the effect of straightening the toggle,` swinging thestopsurface 36 against the stop 31 so that the forces maybe transmittedfrom the crank shaft effectively and directly to the slide.` `Thefollowing 90 movement `of the crank shaft completing the second halfofthe downward movementof the slide, of course.moves the pin 32 down stillfurther while the link 30 is fixed on the slide. The arm 42, however,does not move i from its dotted line position, as the stop 58 moves awayfrom the stop 51,` during this nal part of the down stroke of the slide,so that vthe toggle -is maintained substantially straight. `In otherWords link 30 is operatively associated with arm 33 -for the effectivetransmission of forces to the slide during the second half of the downstroke.

The following 90 travel oi' the crank shaft, during which time the slidestarts to rise, moves the parts to the position shown in full lines inFig. 5. `During this 90of movement the stop surfaces 51 andv 58 areapproaching each other so that by the time the full line position ofFig. 5 is reached these stop surfaces engage and the toggle parts havejust been moved out of alignment. 'I'his breaking of the toggle iseffected in a positive manner by the stops 51 and 58, if the toggle isnot broken by the time the full line posi-i tion is reached. However,before that time the movement of the upper end of the crank arm 33 tothe left has swung the arm 33 out of align ment with the link 3U andupward pressure on the 58 engage. At this time the cam 63 operates themechanism to swing the clutch plates 53 and 54 to the rightas viewed inFig. 1 so that the slide can continue its upward movement under thecontrol of the air cushion, the stop surface- 55 moving away from thestop surface 56 as the slide These two stop surfaces, however, arebrought into engagement when the crank reaches the upper end of itsmovement as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and at this time thehub 45 is in a position so it can be movedover into engagement with theclutch plate 54 again. If the foot pedalis not depressed at this timethe subsequent movements of the hub 46` are without effect on theVslide, as the-arm .41 is not connected to .arm 42 so far as'clockwiserotation is concerned, and movements'of the crank arm 33` merely havethe effect of swinging this arm into an angular relationship with thelink 30 as shown in full lines in Fig. 7, previously described.

By reason of the construction referred to, it is 4apparent that at anytime desired byfthe operator, hecan place the press in position sothatat the proper time in the cycle of operations the press parts willthemselves cause the straightening of the toggle arms so that therequired pressures 4can be transmitted Vfrom the crank shaft to theslide. This press: operated .mechanism which straightens the toggle armsinto substantial align-r 'gaged, and comparatively small and simple'parts can, therefore, be employed for bringing the toggle arm's intosubstantialv alignment. As the press automatically operates themechanism. that brings lthe toggle' members into alignment during averysubstantial angular travel of the crankshaft, the press is particularlyadapted for very high speed operation, such as is quite desirable inforging presses and the like. Blows of tremendous force,l

as much as ve hundred tons or more, may be struck by a press operatingat a crankshaft speed even greater than RaP. M., in accordance with thisinvention. Although particularly desirable for hot forging of steel andbrass and like material, it is apparent -that the press is susceptibleto other adaptations and uses.- i i t While lthe form of apparatusherein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the inven` tion,it is to be understoodthat the invention is not .limited to this preciseform of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention which is defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a press of the character described,l a framea reciprocableslideguided in said frame, a rotatable operating shaft providedsubstantially in line with the direction of slide movements and having adriving portion for reciprocating said slide, means for connecting saidslide to said driving portion and comprising a toggle connection adaptedto be straightened for the transmission of thrust force from shaft toslide and to be collapsed to permit idle movement of said shaft, andmeans operated by said shaft for rendering said toggle connectionoperative.

2. In a press of the character described, a frame, a reciprocable slideguided in said frame, an operating shaft provided substantially in linewith the direction of slide movement and having a driving portion forreciprocating said slide, means for connecting said slide to saiddriving portion and comprising a toggle connection adapted to bestraightened for the transmission of thrust force from shaft to slideand to be collapsed to permit idle movement of said shaft, fluidpressure means for urging said slide toward said shaft, and `meansdriven in predetermined timed relation with said shaft for renderingsaid an operating shaft rotatable in said frame and having a drivingportion for reciprocating said slide, and means for connecting saidslide to said driving portion and comprising a toggle connection adaptedto be straightened for the transmission of thrust force as a rigidmember from shaft to slide and to be collapsed to permit idle movementof said shaft, means independent oi" said toggle connection for normallyurging said slide toward said shaft, and means for controlling saidtoggle connection to provide for continued idle rotation of said shaftwhile the slide remains ineffective.

4. In a press of the character described,l a frame, a. reciprocableslide guided in said frame, a rotatable operating shaft providedsubstantially in line with the direction of slide movements and having adriving portion for reciprocating said slide, a crank arm connected tosaid driving portion, a link pivotaliy connected to said crank arm andto said slide, said link and crank arm being adapted to be straightenedfor the transmission of thrust force from shaft to slide and to becollapsed to permit idle movement of said shaft, and means operated bysaid shaft for straightening said arm and link into alignment during therst half of the downward movement of said driving portion.

5. In a press of the character described, a frame, a reciprocable slideguided in said frame, a rotatable ycrank shaft provided substantially inline with the direction of slide movements and having a driving portionfor reciprocating said slide, a toggle connection connecting said slideto said driving portion and adapted to be straightened for thetransmission of thrust force from shaft to slide and to be collapsed topermit idle movement of said shaft, and means for straightening saidtoggle connection, said last means having provision for graduallyaccelerating the slide from an upper portion of rest with relation tothe movements of said driving portion.

6. In a press of the character described, a frame, a reciprocable diecarrying slide guided in said frame, an operating shaft providedsubstantially i in line with the direction of slide movements and havinga driving portion for reciprocating said slide, and means for connectingsaid slide to said driving portion and comprising a toggle connectionadapted to be straightened for the transmission of thrust force fromsaid shaft to slide and to be collapsed to permit idle movement of saidshaft, controllable means operated by said shaft in timed relationtherewith for straightening said toggle connection at predeterminedtimes in the sequence of movements of said shaft, and manually operablemeans for controlling said controllable means to render the sameeffective and ineffective when desired.

7. In a press of the character described, a frame, a reciprocable slideguided thereon, a rotatable shaft mounted in said frame, an armeccentrically connected to said shaft, a connection between said arm andsaid slide, a member operable in one direction for operating saidconnection so the slide is driven by said arm, and operable in theopposite direction so that the arm\is\ineffective to drive said slide,an oscillatable part driven by said crank shaft, a clutch operable toconnect said oscillatable part to said member for movement of saidmember in one direction, a second clutch operable to connect saidoscillatable part to said member for movement of said member in anopposite direction, and means operable in timed relation with said shaftfor automatically engaging one clutch and disengaging the other at apredetermined time in a cycle of press operations.

8. An engaging and disengaging device for presses, stamping machines andsimilar machine tools, comprising in combination an upper tool holder, awork holder to be operated upon by said tool holder, a driving means toactuate said upper tool holder, a crank and toggle connection betweensaid upper tool holder and said driving means, said toggle connectionbeing broken when the driving means is not actuating the upper toolholder and being straightened when the toggle connection is operatingthe upper tool holder, means to break said toggle connection and tostraighten said toggle connection, releasable fluid actuated means forholding the upper tool holder in operative position removed from thework holder when the toggle connection is broken, said crank and toggleconnection operating said upper tool holder when the toggle connectionis in straightened position against the force exerted by said releasableuid actuated means.

ARTHUR A. BYERLEIN.

